Committee on Constitution & Bylaws Petitions
Amendments to the Society’s Constitution or Bylaws
The petition deadline for proposed amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws for the fall 2025 meeting in Washington, DC is April 30, 2025. Comments on petitions for consideration are due within 30 days after the Council meeting to bylaws@acs.org or to the chair of the committee that was assigned primary responsibility. For the deadline for amendments to the Standing Rules, contact Christi Pearson at secretary@acs.org. Contact C&B at bylaws@acs.org if you have any questions.
Amendments to the Standing Rules
See Bylaw XI in the ACS Governing Documents for amendments to the Standing Rules.
Status of ACS Petitions
| Petition & Status | Committee with Primary Responsibility OR Status | Description |
2026 Schedule of Dues and Benefits | MAC; approved by Council 3/26/25 | MAC proposed changes to the Schedule of Dues and Benefits to add partner organization discounts and a legal disclaimer. |
Petition to Amend the Number of Councilors on N&E | N&E; approved by Council 3/26/25, awaiting confirmation by the Board of Directors | N&E proposed changes to Standing Rule IV, Sec. 1, b to increase the number of Councilors serving on N&E from 15 to 19. |
Petition to Amend the Name and Duties of the Committee on Patents and Related Matters | ConC; approved by Council 3/26/25, awaiting confirmation by the Board of Directors | CPRM proposed changes to Standing Rule II, Sec. 4, b, (10) and VIII, Sec. 1, b, (10) to amend its name and duties from the Committee on Patents and Related Matters (CPRM) to the Committee on Intellectual Property (CIP). |
Petition to Amend the Name of the Committee on Technician Affairs | ConC; this petition was approved by Council on 8/21/24; confirmed by the Board on 12/6/24. | CTA proposed changes to Standing Rules II, Sec. 4, a, (14) and VIII, Sec. 1, a, (14) to amend its name from the Committee on Technician Affairs to the Committee on Chemical Technical Professionals (CTP). |
Petition for Global Representation on Council AMENDED ON COUNCIL PDF REVISED PDF ORIGINAL PDF | CPC; this petition was approved as amended by Council on 8/21/24; confirmed by the Board 9/19/24. | CPC proposed changes to Bylaw III, Sec. 2 and Standing Rules II, Secs. 1-2; IV, Secs. 2, 9, 11, 14, 17; VII, Sec. 3; and VIII, Sec. 1. |
Petition to Remove Inconsistencies and Add Missing Revisions | CPC; this petition was approved by Council 3/20/24 and confirmed by the Board 5/31/24. Effective 5/31/24. | CPC proposed changes to Standing Rules II, Sec. 1, (d); III, Sec. 2, (a); IV, Secs. 1, (b), 6, 9; and VI, Sec. 5, (j). |
Petition to Amend the Duties of the Committee on Budget and Finance | B&F; this petition was approved by Council 3/20/24 and confirmed by the Board 5/31/24. Effective 5/31/24. | B&F proposed changes to its duties in Standing Rule VIII, Sec. 1, (b), (1). |
Petition on Dues and Benefits | MAC; this petition was approved by Council 3/20/24 and confirmed by the Board 5/31/24. Effective 5/31/24. | MAC proposed changes to Standing Rules I, Secs. 1-9; II, Sec. 7; and VII, Secs. 1, (q), 2, (c), 3, (c). |
2025 Schedule of Dues and Benefits | MAC; this petition was approved by Council 3/20/24, and confirmed by the Board of Directors 5/31/24. Effective 5/31/24. | MAC proposed a name change, adding a World Bank discount, and moving contents from the Schedule to the Standing Rules. |
Petition to Amend the Council Executive Function | CPC; this petition was approved by Council 8/16/23 and confirmed by the Board of Directors 9/27/23. Effective 9/27/23. | CPC proposed changes to the Council Executive Function in Standing Rule II, Sec. 1, (f); Sec. 5 (g). |
Petition to Amend the Duties of the Committee on International Activities | ConC; this petition was approved by Council 8/16/23 and confirmed by the Board of Directors 9/27/23. Effective 9/27/23. | IAC proposed changes to Standing Rule VII, Sec. 3, (b) and (g). |
Petition to Add International Representation on the Board of Directors REVISED PDF AS AMENDED ON COUNCIL FLOOR PDF | N&E; this petition was approved by Council 8/16/23, confirmed by the Board of Directors 9/27/23, and ratified by two-thirds (2/3) of the members voting in its favor 10/25/23. Effective 1/1/25. | Proposed changes to Constitution Article VII, Sec. 1, (b); Sec. 3, (c) and Standing Rules II, Sec. 1, (b); IV, Sec. 2, (f); Secs. 8-11; 13-14; and 16. |
Petition for Representation of International Chapters on Council WITHDRAWN: PDF | Withdrawn. Fall 2023 Council agenda: 8/16/23 | Proposed changes to Bylaws III, Sec. 2 (a); VI; Standing Rules II, Sec. 2; IV, Secs. 10 (a), 13 (c), 16; and VII, Sec. 3 (e). |
Petition to Add Plan B to Council Meetings | N&E; this petition was approved by Council 3/29/23 and confirmed by the Board of Directors 4/24/23. Effective 4/24/23. | N&E proposed changes to the elections function in Standing Rule IV, Secs. 4(d) and 8 (b). |
Petition to Add International Representation on the Board of Directors | N&E; considered by Council in spring 2023 and up for action in fall 2023. | Proposed changes to Constitution Article VII, Sec. 1, (b); Sec. 3, (c) and Standing Rules II, Sec. 1, (b); IV, Sec. 2, (f); Secs. 8-11; 13-14; and 16. |
2024 Schedule of Membership | MAC; approved by Council 3/29/23. Effective 3/29/23. | MAC proposes new changes to the 2024 Schedule of Membership |
Petition to Amend the Duties of the Council Policy Committee | CPC; this petition was approved by Council 3/29/23 and confirmed by the Board of Directors 4/24/23. Effective 4/24/23. | CPC proposed changes to its duties listed in Standing Rule II, Sec. 1, b. |
Petition to Amend the Name and Duties of the Committee on Environmental Improvement PDF | ConC; this petition was approved by Council 3/29/23 and confirmed by the Board of Directors 4/24/23. Effective 4/24/23. | ConC proposed changes to the name and duties on the Committee on Environmental Improvement listed in Standing Rule II, Sec. 4, b, (7) and Standing Rule VIII, Sec. 1, b, (7). |
Petition to Amend the Elections Function | N&E; this petition was approved by Council 8/24/22 and confirmed by the Board 9/27/22. Effective 9/27/22 | N&E proposed changes to the elections function listed in Standing Rule II, Sec. 1, 4 (c); Standing Rule III, Sec. 2-5; and Standing Rule IV. |
Petition to Amend the Duties of the Committee on Divisional Activities | DAC; this petition was approved by Council 8/24/22 and confirmed by the Board 9/27/22. Effective 9/27/22 | DAC proposed amendments to its duties listed in Standing Rule VII, Sec. 2 (b). |
Petition to Amend the Application and Dues Process for Corporation Associates | MAC; this petition was approved by Council 8/24/22 with amendments on the floor and confirmed by the Board 9/27/22. Effective 9/27/22 | The Committee on Corporation Associates proposed changes to amend the application and dues process for corporation associates listed in Standing Rule I, Sec. 9 (c). |
Petition to Amend the Duties on the Committee on Chemists with Disabilities | CWD; this petition was approved by Council 3/23/22 and confirmed by the Board 5/22/22. Effective 5/22/22 | CWD proposed changes to its duties as listed in Standing Rule VIII. |
Petition to Amend the Use of Dues | B&F; this petition was approved by Council 3/23/22 and confirmed by the Board 5/22/22. Effective 5/22/22 | B&F proposed changes to amend certain specific uses of dues revenue allocated to support production and distribution costs of CE&N and annual funding support to Local Sections and Divisions listed in Standing Rule II, Sec. 7, c, e, f. |
2023 Schedule of Membership | MAC; approved by Council 3/23/22. Effective 3/23/22 | MAC proposed new changes to the Schedule of Membership. |
Petition to Amend the Duties of the Committee on Minority Affairs | CMA; this petition was approved by Council 8/25/21 and confirmed by the Board 8/28/21. Effective 8/28/21 | CMA proposed changes to its duties as listed in Standing Rule VIII. |
Petition to Harmonize Committee Structures, Processes, and Terms | ConC; this petition was approved by Council 3/24/21 and confirmed by the Board 3/26/21. Effective 3/26/21 | There are a lot of changes to Standing Rules I-V, VIII, and IX, to change ACS's committee structure, etc. |
Petition to Amend the Duties of LSAC | LSAC; this petition was approved by Council 3/24/21 and confirmed by the Board 3/26/21. Effective 3/26/21 | LSAC proposes changes to its duties as listed in Standing Rule VII. |
2022 Schedule of Membership | MAC; the 2022 Schedule of Membership was approved by Council 3/24/21 and confirmed by the Board 3/26/21. Effective 3/26/21 | MAC proposes new changes to the Schedule of Membership |
Deadlines
FYI: the Society’s Constitution Article XIII and Bylaws X and XI pertain to petitions for changing the Constitution or Bylaws: ACS Governing Documents (ACSGovDocs). The deadline to amend the Constitution or Bylaws is 16 weeks before the Council meeting. See Bylaw XI for Amendments to the Standing Rules.
Council-approved amendments to the Society’s Constitution "shall be submitted to the membership for vote at the time of the next SOCIETY election...." (Article XIII, Sec. 2, f, second paragraph). Standing Rule IV, Sec. 4, e establishes the deadline of the next election as being "on or before October 10...."
Deadline for Official Comments on Petitions
“Within 30 days after the Council meeting at which a petition to amend the Constitution or Bylaws has been presented for consideration, opponents of the proposed petition may submit written arguments to the chair of the committee which has been assigned primary substantive responsibility; the chair shall prepare summaries of these arguments and of any rebuttals by proponents, for inclusion, in association with the proposed amendment, in the agenda of the Council meeting at which action is to be taken....” (ACS Governing Documents, Constitution Article XIII, Sec. d and Bylaw X, Sec. 2, d)
Contact C&B
For questions or comments about petitions or the petition process, contact the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws Staff Liaison, Amy Yam:
- bylaws@acs.org
- 202-872-4071 or 800-227-5558, ext. 4071
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